A Disclaimer

I would like to begin this with a disclaimer: I hate blogging. I hate the very word "blog." The fact that the perfectly reasonable two-syllable phrase "web log" was shortened to the unsightly, ugly-sounding, pretentious "blog" basically sums up what you need to know about the idea of blogging: it's lazy. I mean in the old days I'd write out a lovely postcard to each of you updating you on the recent events of my life, using personal anecdotes that made you know I was thinking of you. Instead, this format reflects our modern reality-TV world, in which everyone attempts to make themselves the star for their 15 minutes, no matter how boring their life or how drab (or vile) their personality. In effect, it allows people to say "look at me, I'm doing stuff!" with the egocentric assumption that someone actually cares to read about the one hundred and eighty two things you love/hate the most, or about the latest minor altercation in your on-again, off-again, on-again, off-again, on-again relationship with your wanker boyfriend that nobody likes anyway.

That said, I can see some advantages. Rather than putting together a dozen different weekly e-mails to a dozen different people, I can answer your burning questions in one place: do I like Kimchi? (yes), am I living in a 100 sq ft. closet that costs USD 2,000 a month? (no), have I eaten dog yet? (Christ, I hope not). So if you have any questions, please stay in touch, and if you want to know about my teaching and pickled pineapple-eating exploits, stay tuned . . .